Speaking to reporters at the police commissioner’s office on Saturday, he said that over the past six months, the police have launched special operations to trace and arrest rowdy-sheeters who have been absconding after being involved in long-pending and serious offences such as murder, stone-pelting during communal riots, attempts to communal murder, rape and gang rape.

While arresting the accused is one aspect, the commissioner said instructions had been issued to all police stations to initiate action against persons who stood surety for such accused when the latter failed to appear before the court. Accordingly, 15 rowdy-sheeters have been arrested and legal proceedings initiated. In addition, steps have been taken to attach the properties of the accused.

He said the process of property attachment through court orders has already been initiated in the case of one accused. Applications have also been submitted to courts seeking action against those who provided surety for other absconding accused. Based on court orders, fines ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lac have been imposed on 11 persons who stood surety, and the fines have been recovered.

In serious cases, properties of those who stood surety for 17 accused have been attached as bail security. These properties cannot be sold or otherwise transacted, as they now come under the jurisdiction of the court. Once the accused are apprehended, further proceedings to release the attached properties will be taken up through the court.

The commissioner emphasised that in serious cases, it is the responsibility of the surety provider to ensure that the accused appears before the court and faces trial. Failure to do so could land the surety provider in legal trouble.

Taking into account the gravity of offences, he said that in the last six months alone, 38 rowdy-sheeters have been identified and action initiated in 48 cases registered between 1990 and 2023.

He further stated that cases of fake sureties have also come to light, and separate cases have been registered against those involved. Two cases have been registered against rowdy-sheeters for arranging fake sureties, the police commissioner added.